Customization in a content distribution system

• US 6,973,621 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2002
• Issued: 12/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Starz Entertainment, LLC (Lions Gate Entertainment Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Starz Entertainment, LLC (Lions Gate Entertainment Corporation)
• Inventors: Sabraw, Martin F., Beyler, John C., Sie, John J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hailu, Tadesse
• Application Number:
  US10/131,507
• Publication Number:
  US 20020199188A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,324 Days
• Field of Search: 715716-726, 715733-748, 725 37- 61, 725 9- 12, 725 87- 97, 725/144, 725/32
• US Class Current: 715/720
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/00 Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD] real-time bi-directional transmission of motion video data H04N7/14 ; broadcast or conference over packet switching networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25866 Management of end-user data customer care in data networks H04L41/5077
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26283 for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02

Abstract

According to the invention, a method for customizing a video service in a content distribution system is disclosed. In one step, preference information entered by a user of the content distribution system is received and influences a profile for that user. Interaction of the user with the video service is observed to influence the profile. The video service is customized based, at least in part, on the profile. A program guide is generated and customized according to the profile. The profile is modified to remove older interaction information.

Claims

1. A method for customizing a video service in a content distribution system, the method comprising steps of:

receiving preference information entered by a plurality of users of the content distribution system to influence a profile for a user who is part of the plurality of users;

observing interaction of the user with the video service;

determining which of the plurality of users is currently controlling interaction with the content distribution system by analyzing biometric information comprising timing of interaction with remote control buttons;

modifying the profile based upon the observing step;

customizing the video service based, at least in part, on the profile; and

generating a program guide customized according to the profile, wherein;

the program guide indicates which of the plurality of users the program guide is currently customized for,

a unique indicator corresponding to the user is displayed within a screen of the program guide, whereby the user can determine that the program guide is customized according to the profile,

the screen indicates a plurality of programs available for viewing,

the program guide displays a list of the plurality of users, and

the list reflects the unique indicator.

2. The method for customizing the video service in the content distribution system as recited in claim 1, wherein the customizing step comprises at least one of the following steps:

sorting channels of the video service in various guide screens;

or

sorting SVOD programs, VOD programs and stored programs in the various guide screens.

3. The method for customizing the video service in the content distribution system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a step of selecting a plurality of programs in a grid guide of programs to display more detailed information for that plurality of programs.

4. The method for customizing the video service in the content distribution system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a step of applying one of a plurality of profiles corresponding to the user currently controlling interaction with the content distribution system.

5. The method for customizing the video service in the content distribution system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a step of requesting correction of identity from the user currently controlling interaction with the content distribution system while displaying at least one of:

a list of available programs,

a list of available program categories, or

a watched program currently selected for playback.

6. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a computer-implementable method for customizing the video service in the content distribution system of claim 1.

7. A method for customizing a video service in a content distribution system, the method comprising steps of:

requesting correction of identity from a user currently controlling interaction with the content distribution system, wherein the requesting is performed while displaying at least one of;

a list of available programs,

a list of available program categories, or

a selected program currently selected for playback;

observing interaction of the user with the video service;

modifying a profile for the user based upon the observing step;

formulating questions regarding a watched program;

modifying the profile based upon answers to the questions;

customizing the video service based, at least in part, on the profile; and

generating a program guide customized according to the profile.

8. The method for customizing the video service in the content distribution system as recited in claim 7 wherein at least one answer to the questions has more than two responses.

9. The method for customizing the video service in the content distribution system as recited in claim 7 further comprising a step of receiving preference information to influence a plurality of profiles for a plurality of users.

10. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a computer-implementable method for customizing the video service in the content distribution system of claim 7.

11. The method for customizing the video service in the content distribution system as recited in claim 7 further comprising a step of causing display of the questions after the watched program is viewed, whereby impressions of the user can be captured.

12. A method for customizing a video service in a content distribution system, the method comprising steps of:

receiving preference information entered by a user of the content distribution system to influence a profile for the user;

requesting correction of identity from the user currently controlling interaction with the content distribution system while displaying at least one of;

a list of available programs,

a list of available program categories, or

a watched program currently selected for playback;

observing interaction of the user with the video service;

modifying the profile based upon the observing step;

customizing the video service based, at least in part, on the profile; and

generating a program guide customized according to the profile, wherein;

a unique indicator corresponding to the user is displayed within a screen of the program guide, whereby the user can determine that the program guide is customized according to the profile, and

the screen indicates a plurality of programs available for viewing.

13. The method for customizing the video service in the content distribution system as recited in claim 12 wherein:

the receiving step comprises receiving preference information for a plurality of users,

the user is part of the plurality of users for the content distribution system,

the program guide indicates which of the plurality f users the program guide is currently customized for,

the program guide displays a list of the plurality of users, and

the list reflects the unique indicator.

14. The method for customizing the video service in content distribution system as recited in claim 13 further comprising a step of determining which of the plurality of users is currently controlling interaction with the content distribution system by analyzing biometric information comprising timing of interaction with the remote control buttons.

15. The method for customizing the video service in the content distribution system as recited in claim 12 wherein the customizing step comprises at least one of the following steps:

sorting channels of the video service in various guide screens;

or

sorting SVOD programs, VOD programs and stored programs in the various guide screens.

16. The method for customizing the video service in the content distribution system as recited in claim 12 further comprising a step of selecting a plurality of programs in a grid guide of programs to display more detailed information for that plurality of programs.

17. The method for customizing the video service in the content distribution system as recited in claim 12 further comprising a step of applying one of a plurality of profiles corresponding to the user currently controlling interaction with the content distribution system.

18. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a computer-implementable method for customizing the video service in the content distribution system of claim 12.